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Athens to Muscat - The Middle East with a Muse


Silver Spectre
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21 hours ago, Stumblefoot said:

Oh Terry, do whatever you can to get yourself out of coach on that aircraft.  As a very, very frequent flyer of AA, I can tell you AA coach (regardless of extra legroom in the main cabin extra section) on the 787 is brutally bad.  Why?  Because AA has crammed 9 seats across the cabin versus the preferred Boeing design on 8.  Not only will you be fighting for the arm rest all flight, your fanny is going to ache beyond belief due to seat width and poor padding.  I can barely stand flying the aircraft ORD-DFW, so could not imagine flying it across the pond.

 

YES, Stumblefoot, get your message loud and clear!!  BUT, our air ticket came through Oceania as a part of the "free" package tied to the overall cruise "deal".  Due to the type of restrictions, I have not been able to do any American Airlines upgrade to business or premium economy.  Will try to do more as we get closer and/or at the airport during check-in.  Not too hopeful, but will keep trying in case there is a way to "get lucky".   It's a nine-hour flight from London to Chicago.  Do not, however, want to pay the ultra high price at retail for getting business class.  Or, if you'll send me your credit card number, I can put it on your account and give you the added Frequent Flyer miles.  

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

SE Asia/Mekong River, Etc.!  Live/blog from early 2018, first adventure through SE Asia, stops in Hong Kong and Bangkok, before exploring all over Vietnam and Cambodia, seven days sailing on the Mekong River. Now at 37,710 views.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2591474

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6 hours ago, Silver Spectre said:

And finally reached Port Suez.

 

Appreciate these great visuals and the follow-ups from Silver Spectre.  Keep 'em coming!!  You are helping in building up our excitement for this soon-to-be Athens to Dubai sailing. 

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Lisbon, NWSpain, Bordeaux/Brittany: Live/blog, June 2017 from Portugal to France along scenic Atlantic Coast.  Now at 25,636 views.  Many interesting pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

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2 hours ago, TLCOhio said:

Due to the type of restrictions, I have not been able to do any American Airlines upgrade to business or premium economy.  Will try to do more as we get closer and/or at the airport during check-in.  Not too hopeful, but will keep trying in case there is a way to "get lucky".

Well, the good news, based on AA's earnings report yesterday, is it sounds like AA is going to do everything they can to strip away those freebie upgrades I'm used to getting as an Exec Plat in order to sell as much of their premium seats as possible, going so far as to even offer deals at the gate to try and entice folks to "pay" up for a better seat. 

While good for AA revenue and profitability in the short term, it'll be bad in the long term as such actions will tick off, and probably be the final straw for, many AA frequent flyers who now realize loyalty no longer cuts both ways.

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Since we had been to Sharm before and done the touristy bit of wandering around the town, and on another occasion had gone and spent the day at the Four Seasons with friends who were staying there, this time we thought we would brave the 3 1/2 bus journey each way and go and see the ‘burning bush’ at St Catherine’s Monastery.

 

We had a backup bus and an armed escort.

 

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Edited by Silver Spectre
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We had an excellent guide ( who we met again in Luxor two days later!), who spent the outbound journey explaining about Sinai, the Bedouin’s, the Monastery and Egypt in general.

 

The buses were only about 40% full, had a loo, and the seats were ok. We did not stop apart from the occasional security check.

 

Desert scenes

 

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Edited by Silver Spectre
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Hi Mr. Silver and Mrs. Silver, thanks for sharing your gorgeous Sharm and Luxor snaps.  We know how much time & effort, especially with the new beloved (kidding) cruise critic 1.5, it takes to post.  We loved snorkeling in Sharm and enjoyed Luxor too (back in late 2012), xcept for the hours long bus ride to get there and back to the ship.

 

Hope Mrs. Silver and you continue to enjoy these iconic Middle East sites.

 

Edited by WesW
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1 hour ago, WesW said:

Hi Mr. Silver and Mrs. Silver, thanks for sharing your gorgeous Sharm and Luxor snaps.  We know how much time & effort, especially with the new beloved (kidding) cruise critic 1.5, it takes to post.  We loved snorkeling in Sharm and enjoyed Luxor too (back in late 2012), xcept for the hours long bus ride to get there and back to the ship.

 

Hope Mrs. Silver and you continue to enjoy these iconic Middle East sites.

 

No problem Wes, it may take a long time to get it all onto CC 1.5 at the current rate though.

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